When a Sea Org member is with child, the couple is granted a leave of absence from the religious order until the child comes of age. Scientologists believe human beings are impeded by negative memories from past lives, and that by applying Hubbard's "technology," they can reach a state known as clear. But asked about the church's membership, Davis said, "I couldn't tell you an exact figure, but it's certainly, it's most definitely in the millions in the U.S. and millions abroad.". if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'biographyhost_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_17',153,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-mobile-leaderboard-1-0'); "I was married to Mike for over 31 years and we had two children and lived together all those decades. So she intentionally conceived a child. The Collbrans went back to work for the church in Los Angeles, but Christie Collbran found the atmosphere so oppressive that she again resolved to leave. Christie King Collbran was in the Sea Org from the age of 16 until the age of 29. Christie King Collbran, who was core to the Scientology leadership group, has left her post after having to hide being pregnant. The Sea Org is a religious order that requires enormous dedication, he said, and leaving any religious order can be a lengthy process. Completely. The church has responded to the bad publicity by denying the accusations and calling attention to a worldwide building campaign that showcases its wealth and industriousness. All Rights Reserved. The same year, she left the Sea Org and Christ. Davis, the church's current spokesman, said Scientologists are no different from Mormons, Catholics, Jehovah's Witnesses and Amish who practice shunning or excommunication. She had, indeed, earlier told two news outlets that she had gotten pregnant for one reasonand one reason onlyto expedite her departure from the Sea Organization, since she knew the Church would want her to begin prenatal care at once. ", Chris Collbran, for his part, wants nothing to do with his former church. Manage Settings So while her ex, Chris, turned to drugs and women (both of which he had secretly pursued while in the Sea Org) Christie took that prominent place in the bed of Rinderthe original family heartbreaker. Scientologists believe that human beings are impeded by negative memories from past lives, and that by applying Mr. Hubbards technology, they can reach a state known as clear. [9] After finishing high school he joined the Sea Org on the ship Apollo at 18. "Why did we work so hard for this organization," Christie Collbran said, "and why did it feel so wrong in the end? Continue with Recommended Cookies. And it was her decision. Searching for Web sites about Scientology that are not sponsored by the church (an activity prohibited when they were in the Sea Org), they discovered that hundreds of other Scientologists were also defecting including high-ranking executives who had served for decades. The auditors tried to talk them out of leaving, and the Collbrans wavered. The defectors say Sea Org members were repeatedly beaten by the churchs chairman, David Miscavige, often during planning meetings; pressured to have abortions; forced to work without sleep on little pay; and held incommunicado if they wanted to leave. CLEARWATER, Fla. Raised as Scientologists, Christie King Collbran and her husband, Chris, were recruited as teenagers to work for the elite corps of staff members who keep the Church of Scientology running, known as the Sea Organization, or Sea Org. "You're in fear," Chris Collbran said. Chris Collbran said he saw an officer hit a subordinate, and soon found that the atmosphere of supervision through intimidation was affecting him. But recently some celebrities have begun to abandon the church, the most prominent of whom is the director and screenwriter Paul Haggis, who won Oscars for "Million Dollar Baby" and "Crash." She believed in the mission: to "clear the planet" of negative influences by bringing Scientology to its inhabitants. They signed a contract for a billion years -- in keeping with the belief that Scientologists are immortal. Recently, Christie Collbran received an e-mail message from her mother calling her a "snake in the grass.". The Collbrans went back to work for the church in Los Angeles, but Christie Collbran found the atmosphere so oppressive, the staff members so miserable, that she likened it to living under "martial law" and again resolved to leave. In Johannesburg, officials made the church look busy for publicity photographs by filling it with Sea Org members, the Collbrans said. Christie made the decision to leave us if we didn't do what she wanted. Although she and her parents were very close, she said they had spent so much to advance up the bridge that they could not afford to attend the wedding. Her parents were dedicated church members in Los Angeles, and she attended full-time Scientology schools for several years. His wife, who said the church coerced her into having two abortions, has also filed a suit. Rinder defended the Church and Scientology leader David Miscavige. In 1993, when she was 16, Christie joined the Sea Organization, where she remained for 13 years. As a result, Rinder was called to visit Sussex's church facility. But the time in which she crossed the finish line at Memorial Stadium's 50-yard line really was . CLEARWATER, Fla. Raised as Scientologists, Christie King Collbran and her husband, Chris, were recruited as teenagers to work for the elite corps of staff members who keep the Church of. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'biographyhost_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_3',114,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-medrectangle-3-0'); Growing up, Rinder went to a private school in Adelaide. Now, at the age of 33 and after the lengthy and costly process of leaving the organization, she says the leaders of the Church of Scientology are greedy and abusive tyrants who have perverted the original teachings of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. His mother, Barbara, was a bookkeeper, and his father, Ian, was an entrepreneur who owned several businesses, including a wholesale grocery distribution agency, aerosol canning company, travel agency, and restaurant. The couple now have two small children. John Travolta Opens They worked seven days a week, often on little sleep, for sporadic paychecks of $50 a week, at most. The family livedas the Kings still doin a suburb outside Los Angeles. Raised as Scientologists, Christie King Collbran and her husband, Chris, were recruited as teenagers to work for the elite corps of staff members who keep the Church of Scientology running,. It is a hard bubble to break free from, but more and more people are doing so and less and less are becoming entrapped in the first place." He said the church does require departing staff members to pay freeloader bills and to sign affidavits drawn up by church officials, but he contends that the affidavits never contain confidential information drawn from auditing sessions. They have refused to speak to her ever since. Christie King Collbran was in the Sea Org from the age of 16 until the age of 29. "This is a representation of our success," said the church's spokesman, Tommy Davis, showing off the building's cavernous atrium, still to be clad in Italian marble, at the climax of a daylong tour of the church's Clearwater empire. They worked seven days a week, often on little sleep, for sporadic paychecks of $50 a week, at most. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'biographyhost_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_11',151,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); In 2020, Rinder and Remini reunited to start a podcast calledScientology: Fair Game. They may spend hundreds of hours in one-on-one "auditing" sessions, holding the slim silver-colored handles of an e-meter while an auditor asks them questions and takes notes on what they say and on the e-meter's readings. Christie Rinders Father Tells of Her Rejection, Abuse of Parents, Former Wife Cathy Details Mike Rinders Desertion, Assault and Abuse of Family, Brother Andrew on How Mike Rinder Is Solely Out for Himself, Church of Scientology International. By 16, she was recruited into the Sea Org, so named because it once operated from ships, wearing a Navy-like uniform with epaulets. He had spent months at church headquarters in Clearwater revising the design for the Johannesburg site to meet Miscavige's demands. He is 66 years old as of 2021. After this is when the real Fair Game began. After Christie Collbran hooked up with Mike Rinder, she turned her back on her parents and abandoned her familyjust like Rinder did with his. What Growing Up in a Cult Taught Me About Parenting . She knows what shes doing. Since Anonymous has come forward, said Marc Headley, who belonged to the Sea Org for 16 years, more and more people who have been abused or assaulted are feeling more confident that they can speak out and not have any retaliation happen.. Although she and her parents were very close, she said they had spent so much to advance up the bridge that they could not afford to attend the wedding. He conducted a wedding as "First Independent Scientology Minister" on 3 July 2010 in Pinellas County, signing a state marriage certificate that read, "Michael J. Rinder, Minister Independent Church of Scientology." Rinder served as a spokesperson for the Church of Scientology for over two decades before being removed from his disgrace in 2009. She worked at Church organizations in Los Angeles and New York. Browse . Her parents were dedicated members in Los Angeles, and she attended full-time Scientology schools. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Marty Rathbun, once Miscavige's top lieutenant, is now one of the church's top detractors. By doing enough auditing, taking courses and studying Mr. Hubbards books and lectures for which some Scientologists say they have paid as much as $1 million Scientologists believe that they can proceed up the bridge to total freedom and live to their full abilities as Operating Thetans, pure spirits. Joanie Sigal is a 36-year parishioner in Clearwater who promotes the churchs antidrug campaign to local officials. Mike has since remarried, tying the knot with Christie King Collbran in 2013, with whom he has a son, and according to his blog, they are a happy family, residing in Palm Harbor, Florida. The reason, they agree sadly, is that they no longer see eye to eye on Scientology. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Her performance as Sofia in Delivering Christmas gained recognition, earning the Young Artist Academy Award and . TRANSCRIPT: Our family was going along this path. We commit to cover sensible issues responsibly through the principles of neutrality. Christie was with us and then all of a sudden she took a big U-turn. Meanwhile, husband Chris grew as unstable as the couple's relationship. 2023 www.heraldtribune.com. Born into a family of Scientologists, Collbran, now 33, was raised in a loving home by her parents, Ed and Liz King. He also claimed that Miscavige built a detention center called "The Hole" at Scientology's headquarters in Hemet, California, in the early 2000s for high-ranking members who displeased him. CLEARWATER, Fla. Raised as Scientologists, Christie King Collbran and her husband, Chris, were recruited as teenagers to work for the elite corps of staff members who keep the Church of . Now, all Mike wants to do is "expose the abuses ongoing in the church" and "provide a forum for the exchange of information." He and his second wife, Christie King Collbran, were married in 2013 and have a son. The church immediately sent emissaries to Christie Collbran's parents' house to inform them that their daughter was "suppressive," Collbran said. He was absent during his son's cancer treatment. Instead of reporting to Sussex, he decidedto leave the churchin 2007. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'biographyhost_com-banner-1','ezslot_7',147,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-banner-1-0'); In his website bio, Rinder says he left the church after he decided that "there was no way he could change the culture of violence and abuse that had become endemic under the leadership of David Miscavige. Christie's segment begins at about 6:35. She fully believed in the mission: to "clear the planet" of negative influences by bringing Scientology to its inhabitants. We just didn't understand.". which Rindercallsthe "floating headquarters for Scientology. And so the couple continues their sorry affair, having alienated their families and saddled with a child born out of deception. Youre so into it, its everything you know: your family, your eternity.. Church of Scientology Mission Ms. Collbran remained in Johannesburg, and for three months the church refused to allow them to contact each other, the Collbrans said. But after 13 years and growing disillusionment, the Collbrans decided to leave the Sea Org, setting off on a Kafkaesque journey that they said required them to sign false confessions about their personal lives and their work, pay the church thousands of dollars it said they owed for courses and counseling, and accept the consequences as their parents, siblings and friends who are church members cut off all communication with them. Davis, the church spokesman, said the Collbrans' exit was not unusual. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. With multiple surgeries and radiation treatments, Benjamin started recovering after two years. The church has responded by denying the accusations and calling attention to a worldwide building campaign. Collbran says she still believes in Scientology -- not in the church as it is now constituted, but in its teachings. "All of the personal things you ever said, all the secrets, the transgressions, are all kept in there. A portrait of the founder of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard, in a church retreat center in Clearwater, Fla. Christie King Collbran, who has left the Church of Scientologys elite religious order, the Sea Org, at her home in Safety Harbor, Fla. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'biographyhost_com-leader-3','ezslot_14',152,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-leader-3-0'); Rinder claimed in his blog that when he decided to exit from the Sea Org, he had to choose between abandoning his wife and two children or continuing to facilitate the abuses of Miscavige. "We're working 16 hours a day trying to save the planet, and the church is shrinking.". Their parents, siblings and friends who are Scientologists would have to disconnect from them. But the Johannesburg church was generating only enough to pay each of the Collbrans $17 a week, Collbran said. They signed a contract for a billion . Christie King Collbran was in the Sea Org from the age of 16 until the age of 29. Coopers response as to why he didnt let his viewers know would no doubt be his favorite catchphrase: I didnt think it was relevant.. FREEDOM is a trademark and is used with the owner's permission. Shes not the girl I raised. They now had a child and no money, but they thought they were still in good standing with their church. TV Personality, Podcast Host, Former Scientologist, Former Senior Executive of the CSI, Sea Org, Former Scientologist, Former Senior Executive of the CSI and Sea Org, Mike Rinder and Leah Remini launched a podcast called'Scientology: Fair Game' in July 2020. . And it was her decision. "Since Anonymous has come forward," said Marc Headley, who belonged to the Sea Org for 16 years, "more and more people who have been abused or assaulted are feeling more confident that they can speak out and not have any retaliation happen.". 3.2K views 12 years ago Christie King Collbran never wanted to become a Scientology defector. The auditors tried to talk them out of leaving, and the Collbrans wavered. ". Despite all they have been through together, the Collbrans are divorcing. They do believe in God, or a Supreme Being that is associated with infinite potential. Born into a family of Scientologists, Collbran, now 33, was raised in a loving home by her parents, Ed and Liz King. Collbran also has a son named Shane from her previous relationship. Joanie Sigal is a 36-year parishioner in Clearwater who promotes the church's anti-drug campaign to local officials.
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